Leighton Meester finds a new 'Roommate' during the 'Gossip Girl' hiatus

Leighton Meester is branching out from her breakout role on "Gossip Girl."

Credit: Jason DeCrow

"Gossip Girl's" Leighton Meester is joining a long line of Screen Gems scream queens.  Whether its Jennifer Carpenter ("Quarantine"), Camilla Belle ("When A Stranger Calls"), Kate Beckinsale ("Vacancy"), Lena Heady ("The Cave") Emily Deschanel ("Boogeyman") or Beyonce in the upcoming "Obsessed," Meester has intriguing company as a cinematic damsel in distress.  According to The Hollywood Reporter, Meester's chance at the big screen spotlight begins with "The Roommate."

Under the watch of Oscar-nominated Danish filmmaker Christian E. Christiansen, "The Roommate" will find Meester playing Sara, a college student randomly assigned to her new roommate Rebecca. Before you can say "Single White Female" Rebecca goes cra-zy and begins targeting people in Sara's life.

The role of the obsessed Rebecca has not been cast.

On the CW's low-rated, but buzz friendly "Gossip Girl," Meester plays Blair Waldorf, a snobby rich girl who fights for power among the young set social chain. The 22-year-old had a consistent TV career before "Gossip" and appeared in few indies, but "Roommates" is her most significant big screen role to date.

Production would be expected to begin during "Gossip's" offseason this spring.

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